GHA is launching its plans for an energy efficient home which will cost around £100 a year for heating and hot water.

Designs for the eco friendly home were shown to Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil MSP on Wednesday 20 May.

GHA set about creating models for a home where the water and heating bill is just £100 a year in a bid to tackle fuel poverty head on and to play its part in reducing damage to the environment.

GHA has already - through its multi-million pound investment programme - made a massive contribution towards Glasgow’s 10-year target to cut domestic energy consumption and drive down CO2 emissions by more than 30%. And now the association aims to deliver homes for tenants which are low cost to build and to run.

Teaming up with PRP Architects Ltd a three-bedroom terraced home has been designed which is simple and elegant, built using local materials and proven technologies and costs around £100 a year in heating and hot water bills.

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The annual bill of around £100 can be achieved by:

• High levels of insulation including the use of hollow clay blocks for the external walls. These are easy to lay and will add to local training and employment opportunities.
• Masonry external walls which contribute to comfort and 'thermal mass'; the ability of the building to retain heat and cold and to even out changes to the air temperature in winter and summer
• Windows and sun rooms positioned to capture the energy of the sun without overheating
• A simple construction form which is easily built and reduces energy use
• Prefabricated roof and floor panels to speed up construction
• Locally sourced materials including windows and kitchen fittings
• Useable roof space which is well insulated to allow loft extension at minimum cost
• Efficient heating systems and user friendly controls
• Solar thermal panels on the roof to contribute to water heating
• Educating tenants on how best to benefit from special features of their homes

(GK/JM)